Maz, Origin

 

 

Maz, Origin

by T.L. Ford

GENRE: Sci-fi/Science Fiction

Entering the witness relocation program after lawfully escaping a massive walled-in prison, teenage Merrill tries to fit into our society. Her background and decisions may not let her.

Maz, Origin is a story of growth and love, guilt and innocence, and changing goals. What is morally right and what is legally right? What's legal for humans may not be for aliens...

Excerpt:

"Play it again," I said and James did.  I listened.  "They have vocal cords similar to ours, but I'll bet we're missing some of the pitches.  We'll probably sound flat when we speak their language.  Have they sent anything in any of our languages?"

"No."

"Any video?" Ron asked.

"No."

"Maybe they're waiting to see if there's intelligent life on our planet?" I said.

"Not likely," said James, putting his laptop away.  "The transmission came in on our own satellite frequency bands.  It was precise.  They can pick up our own signals."

"Then they know more about us than we do about them," Ron observed.

James nodded.  "If they're hostile, it makes no sense to announce their knowledge."

"Unless they're trying to get inside our defenses," Ron replied.

"You're supposed to make me less paranoid, not more," James said sourly.

About the Author:

T. L. Ford is a programmer, writer, and artist. She spent most of her professional career supporting the Patuxent River Naval Air Station in southern Maryland.  Her science fiction novels imagine possibilities while focusing on society and personal relationships and decisions.  Her fantasy novels are heavily influenced by Dungeons & Dragons and are light "weekend reads".  She's also created two art books, a thriller novella, and an interactive math iBook.  She enjoys sailing, hiking, and spending time with her family.

Q&A With the Author

Any weird things you do when you’re alone?

I talk to myself and I like (light) cleaning and organizing.  Are those weird?

What is your favorite quote and why?

Quoted at the beginning of Chaim Potok's The Promise:

"If the book we are reading does not wake us, as with a fist hammering on our skull, why then do we read it?  Good God, we would also be happy if we had no books, and such books as make us happy we could, if need be, write ourselves.  But what we must have are those books which come upon us like ill-fortune, and distress us deeply, like the death of one we love better than ourselves, like suicide.  A book must be an ice-axe to break the sea frozen inside us." - Frank Kafka

I want my stories to reach into souls and offer other ways of seeing things, occasionally, between runs of adventure and entertainment.

Who is your favorite author and why?

I have to pick one?  That is too hard.  In no particular order, I'm a fan of Lois McMaster Bujold, Frank Herbert, Jean M. Auel, Chaim Potok, Neal Stephenson, Stephen R. Donaldson, Peter S. Beagle, Dr. Atul Gawande, Neil Gaiman, Julie Garwood, Judith McNaught... might as well dig through my library.  I love them all and would have a hard time choosing.  I'm also a super-devoted fan of Lynette Stanford's writing, may she find time to finish a book and publish - so I think she may come in at the very top of my list.

What, in your opinion, are the most important elements of good writing?

I have to be able to read it - so grammar and spelling and some formatting are near the top of the list, but then... I want stories that have a bit of an ice-axe mixed in with the adventure, with soul-catching human interactions.

Where did you get the idea for this book?

I woke up one morning and the story was pounding in my head to get out, like I imagine magic user spells try to escape their caster.  Pyre wanted to be someone else.  Merrill didn't.  I wanted to play around with the idea of dynamically changing life goals based on what you are handed.

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